Microphone stand



Oct. 31, 1961 H. BENTMAN MICROPHONE STAND Filed May 15, 1959wiiiiiiiihi! INVENTOR fi elzly fieiztm an BY W- AGENT States Unite atent3,007,014 MICROPHONE STAND Henry Bentman, 47-04 188th St., Flushing, NY.Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,448 4 Claims. (Cl. 179-148) Thisinvention relates to an improved microphone upright or support. Moreparticularly the invention relates to a portable microphone supportincluding means for controlling the position of the microphone withrespect to the floor.

In the use of microphones with an upright or support capable ofadjustment in level or height, it often occurs that an entertainer orbroadcaster is required, just prior to speaking or while speaking intothe microphone, to adjust the vertical position of the microphone. Suchadjustment usually results in delay of the performance and theintroduction of audible sound into the amplification or broadcastsystem.

It is an object of my invention to control from a remote point theelevation of one or more microphones with respect to the floor.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a portable microphonesupport which accommodates the microphone leads during verticaladjustment by remote control.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description thereof taken in conjunction with the attacheddrawing.

According to my invention the above objects are accomplished by theprovision, in extensible types of supports for condenser orelectrostatic microphones, of motor driven elevating apparatus withinand mechanically associated with telescoping tubes comprising thesupport.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of myinvention reference is made to the following detailed description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates apreferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section view of a microphone arranged to be movedupwardly together with a portion of the elevating apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1, the scalebeing doubled to more clearly illustrate the details of construction;and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, the scalecorresponding to the scale of FIGURE 2.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawing there is provideda portable microphone support comprising base 1 upon which is mounted atubular upright 2. Telescoped within and spaced from tube 2 is a tube 3which may be vertically positioned within tube 2 as describedhereinafter. Affixed to the lower end of tube 3 is a tube plug 4 havingan annular guide flange 4a which maintains lower co-axial alignment oftubes 2 and 3. Along the upper portion of tube 3 there is provided oneor more guide slots 6', the walls of which fit closely around and insliding relationship with one or more keys 7 of ring 5, so as to preventrotation of tube 3 within tube 2.

On top of tube 3 there is provided a microphone mount 8 and microphone Mwhich may be provided with a ball and socket joint (not shown) or thelike so as to be capable of being easily turned in all directions.

Within base 1 there is mounted a reversible, variable speed, electricmotor 9 having its rotor 10 positioned vertically and extending upwardlythrough motor support 11. Within tube 3 there is positioned a threadeddrive 12 which is mechanically coupled at its lower end to rotor 10 bycoupling 13 and which threads through tube plug 4 for co-axial alignmentwith tube 3. Tube plug 4 is mechanically afi'ixed to tube 3 wherebyduring energization of motor 9 and rotation of drive 12, plug 4 isthreaded along drive 12 thereby moving tube 3 within tube 2 inpredetermined direction and at a predetermined speed. Snap ring 14,surrounding inner tube 3 in annular slot 3a intermediate the top andbottom of such tube, acts as guide to maintain co-axial alignment of thetubes 2 and 3 and also acts as a stop whereby the inner tube 3 isprevented from ascending to a point where the microphone is unstable orwhere the tube 3 is forced entirely out of tube 2. 7

While the electrical leads for the microphone can extend in exposedfashion directly from the microphone to related amplifying equipment(particularly where the microphone is readily removable from the stand),it is preferable that they be accommodated within the telescoping tubesconstituting the microphone support and thereafter pass out of the baseof the support. of the microphone electrical leads can consist of thetelescoping tubes themselves with the other lead accommodated inside,but insulated from such tubes. In any event according to my inventionthe microphone lead or leads 15, as illustrated, extend downwardlywithin tube 3 through plug 4 and into base 1 wherein they are wound upona pulley or spool 16. During adjustment of the microphone height, as byraising or lowering tube 3, the spool 16 unwinds or winds, respectively,the microphone leads 15 so that there is no improper coiling or kinkingof such leads. The spool 16 may be rotatably mounted between the top ofbase 1 and motor support 11 and as shown is provided with gear means' 17which is mechanically driven by gear 18 affixed to coupling 13. Anappropriate rotatable lead connector (not shown) is provided at thelower end of spool 16 to assure good electrical connection with cable 19which, with motor cable 20, leave the base 1 through appropriateopenings.

In operation, the adjustment of microphone height is accomplishedaccording to my invention by mere remote energization of the motorcircuit which may include both a motor reversing switch and motor speedcontroller. It may also be desirable to automatically deenergize themicrophone circuit during microphone height adjustment. Further,appropriate limit switches may be incorporated into the motor circuit tosafeguard against motor stalls when support tube 3 reaches its upper orlower limit of travel.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I amaware that variations may be made thereto and I, therefore, desire abroad interpretation of my invention within the scope of the disclosureherein and the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable microphone stand comprising: a hollow base; an uprighttubular member supported by said base; a tubular microphone supportarranged in telescoping relation within said upright member; areversible electric drive motor in said base and having its rotor inco-axial alignment with said upright member; and a threaded drive shaftextending longitudinally into the interior of said microphone support,said shaft being mechanically coupled at its lower end to said rotor forrotation therewith and being in threaded drive relationship with saidmicrophone support for raising or lowering said microphone supportincident to energization of said motor.

2. A portable microphone stand comprising: a hollow base; an uprighttubular member supported by said base; a tubular microphone supportarranged in telescoping relation within said upright member; saidmicrophone support having an internal threaded portion adjacent its Onelower end; a reversible electric drive motor in said base and having itsrotor in co-axial alignment with said upright member; a threadedfftlriveshaft extending longitudinally into the interior of said microphonesupport, said shaft being mechanically coupled at its lower 'end to saidrotor for rotation therewith; ,and means associated with said tubularmember and said microphone support to prevent rotation of saidmicrophone support within said tubular member, said drive shaft 'beingin threaded drive relationship with the threaded portion of saidmicrophone support for raising or lowering said microphone supportincident to energization of said motor.

3. A portable microphone stand comprising: a hollow base; an uprighttubular member supported by said base; a tubular microphone supportarranged in telescoping relation within said upright member; saidmicrophone support having an internal threaded portion adjacent itslower end; a reversible electric drive motor in said base and having itsrotor in co-axial alignment with said upright member; a threaded driveshaft extending longitudinally into the interior of said microphonesupport, said shaft being mechanically coupled at its lower end to saidrotor for rotation therewith; and at least one inwardly extending keymeans associated with said upright tubular member, said tubularmicrophone support being provided with at least one extended slot forcooperation with said key means to prevent rotation of said microphonesupport within said tubular member, said drive shaft being in threadeddrive relationship with the threaded portion of said microphone supportfor raising or lowering said microphone support incident to energizationof said motor.

4. A portable microphone stand as claimed in claim 3 wherein there isprovided means within said base for winding or unwinding microphonecable, said means being driven by said motor during the raising orlowering of said microphone support.

"References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,110,763 Gerlach Mar. 8, 1938 2,288,822 McCarron July 7., 19422,299,785 Barrett Oct. 27, 1942 2,662,303 Myers Dec. 15, 1953 2,969,436Kilyk Jan. 24, 1961

